Boryana Ivanova

Chadian Fatima left her home country in 2003 but arrived here in 2012. Her world opened up not only culturally but politically after she arrived in Berlin, and she wants to continue using her voice in fights against injustice.Read more

Ercan is a former political refugee who now runs the legendary Cafe Kotti. He talks about using his position to help newly arrived refugees find a place in society, putting people before bureaucracy.Read more

Hend has known war since a very young age, but she can remember a time when Syria felt like paradise to her. Unfortunately the situation in Syria has changed. Regardless, she's happy to be here in Germany where she can continue her education.Read more

Musa's mother died while he was at boarding school, and he lost contact with his father when fighting broke out in their home region of northern Mali in 2012. Now, the 22-year-old is searching for connections here in Germany.Read more

The literature student narrowly avoided conscription to the Syrian army and bribed his way out of the country; now, Muhammad worries about his parents back home in Damascus. Unlike them, he has little hope that the situation will improve soon.Read more

Time to meet someone on the other side of the LaGeSo line. Mustapha is not a refugee himself, but left Morocco for fairer economic weather. Now that he's here, he feels compelled to help Berlin's newest arrivals.Read more

Starting as a rebel fighter in Chad, Jonathan has been shuffled from there to Sudan to Libya to Italy to Germany, where he has been unable to study or work for three years. He explains the emotional cost of living in limbo.Read more

Meet Yussuf, whose tragic loss of his best friend prompted him and his brothers to flee Syria for Germany. After an exploitative job, being scammed and frightening walks, his journey finally brought him to Berlin, ready to start over.Read more

Meet Abdul, a Palestinian refugee with technically no nationality. Beginning his struggle a year ago in Syria, he has made his way to Germany, joining a relieved mother and bringing his family along later.Read more

Among the din of voices in the current refugee crisis, one important voice is often forgotten: that of the refugees themselves. In our brand-new series, Boryana Ivanova visits the camps, Amts and homes to meet the men and women behind the stories.Read more